Requirements
The major consists of at least nine courses: three required Foundation courses and six additional Topical and Methods-Intensive courses. Of the six additional courses, a maximum of five can be Topical courses and at least one course must be a Methods-Intensive seminar. Methods-Intensive seminars may be substituted for Topical courses.
Concentrations: Students majoring in Anthropology have the option to pursue concentrations in Archaeology or Food Studies, both of which are designed to engage students in interdisciplinary modes of study for the purpose of building skills, competencies, and conceptual frameworks that are relevant to a variety of careers.
Study Away: Majors who plan to study away are required to take ANT 297 (2 credits) during the semester prior to studying away, and ANT 298 (2 credits) during the semester immediately following their semester abroad. Combined, the two seminars can satisfy one Topical course requirement for the major. ANT 297/298 is typically offered in the evenings every other week, for a total of 6 to 7 meetings in a single semester. A maximum of two anthropology courses taken abroad can be applied to the major as Topical courses and may be counted toward the archaeology and food studies concentrations, upon approval by the chair of the department.
Field Schools: Archaeology and ethnographic field schools may be applied to the major or minor as Methods-Intensive seminars and may be counted toward the Archaeology and Food Studies concentrations, upon approval by the chair of the department.
Foundation Courses
Foundation courses in Anthropology offer students the conceptual and methodological building blocks required for delving deeper into the discipline. In the liberal arts tradition, these courses also outline the scope, goals, and relevance of anthropology to students seeking to meld the basic optics of an anthropological lens with the concepts and analytical tools offered by other disciplines. Participants in these courses will develop a common vocabulary, develop a base knowledge of methods unique to anthropology, cultivate an appreciation for cultural diversity, and learn key concepts that inform anthropological inquiry, such as cultural relativism. Foundation Courses required of all Anthropology majors:
Topical Courses
Topical courses in Anthropology offer students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of anthropological concepts with scholarship addressing contemporary behavioral and ecological phenomena in specific world areas. In these courses, students critically read and discuss original scholarship, familiarize themselves with the methods and theories of particular topical areas of anthropological investigation, and are introduced to ethical social science research practices. Written, oral, and other assignments allow students to demonstrate comprehension of the relevance of key anthropological concepts to understandings of contemporary issues, mastery of basic library research skills, and ability to critically read and analyze peer-reviewed scholarship and primary sources. Five Topical Courses are required:
Methods-Intensive Seminars
Methods-Intensive seminars allow students to engage scholarship at an even deeper level than Foundation and Topical courses. These courses are often also designed around original faculty research projects, affording students an applied and more intensive exposure to particular anthropological methods, including ethnographic interviewing, video ethnography, mapping, and archaeological survey, among others. In addition to data collection and analysis, students are trained to engage in ethical research practices. Seminars culminate in a presentation and dissemination of research products through various formats, including papers, films, exhibitions, posters, and presentations. A minimum of two Methods-Intensive Seminars is required:
Archaeology Concentration
Students pursuing a major in anthropology with a concentration in archaeology are required to complete four 4-credit courses in archaeology or material culture studies within the context of the major requirements. One or two of these courses may be substituted with an archaeology field school or field research internship upon approval by the chair of the department. Two additional courses -- one in statistics and one in geological science or geographic information systems (GIS) -- must also be completed.
Archaeology & Material Culture Studies Courses
Four anthropology courses from the following list, one or two of which may be substituted with an archaeology field school:
Statistics Courses
One of the following:
Geology, Geomorphology, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Courses
One of the following:
Food Studies Concentration
Students pursuing a major in anthropology with a concentration in food studies are required to complete two 4-credit courses within the context of the major requirements. Three additional courses must also be completed outside of the major. One or two of these courses may be substituted with a credit-bearing faculty-led research experience and/or a credit-bearing summer field school upon approval by the student’s advisor and the chair of the department.
Food-Centered Anthropology Courses
Two anthropology courses from the following list:
Other Food-Centered Courses
Three of the following: